An electronic key having the following features. The electronic key has a key housing and a switch housing in the key housing. The switch housing has an inherently rigid frame having at least one first breakout, and a flexibly deformable membrane which is arranged on the frame in order to close the at least one breakout and to forward a force having effect from the outside on the membrane in the region of the breakout to an electrical switch element arranged within the frame. An electronic key having the required amount of stiffness is thus created, in which sensitive electronic components located therein are also protected from environmental influences. If the deformable membrane is not only used for button-related functions, but also for forming an ejection section for an emergency key or as a rattle protection for the emergency key, a multifunctional switch housing can thus be created simply.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An electronic key, for a vehicle, comprising: a key housing; at least one button separate from and movably coupled to the key housing; and a switch housing which is provided in the key housing and comprises: a rigid frame having at least one first aperture, and also a flexibly deformable diaphragm which is arranged on the frame so as to close the at least one first aperture and to pass on a force which acts on the diaphragm in the region of the aperture from the outside to an electrical switching element which is arranged within the frame, wherein the diaphragm forms one or more first predetermined sections on an outer face of the frame, the frame bearing against an inner face of the key housing with the diaphragm between the frame and the inner face of the key housing at each of the one or more first predetermined sections.
An electronic key for a vehicle comprises a key housing with at least one separate, movable button. A switch housing inside the key housing contains a rigid frame with at least one aperture. A flexible diaphragm is arranged on the frame, covering the aperture, and transfers external force applied to the diaphragm at the aperture to an electrical switching element inside the frame. The diaphragm also forms sections on the frame's outer face where the frame presses against the key housing's inner face with the diaphragm in between, providing structural support.
2. The electronic key as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm and the frame are a two-component injection-molded element, in which the diaphragm forms a soft component and the frame forms a hard component of the two-component injection-molded element.
The electronic key described previously, where the diaphragm and frame are a single, two-component injection-molded element. The diaphragm is made of a soft material (flexible component), while the frame is made of a hard material (rigid component). This two-material construction provides both flexibility for button activation and structural rigidity for the key.
3. An electronic key, for a vehicle, comprising: a key housing; a switch housing which is provided in the key housing and comprises: a rigid frame having at least one first aperture, a flexibly deformable diaphragm which is arranged on the frame so as to close the at least one first aperture and to pass on a force which acts on the diaphragm in the region of the aperture from the outside to an electrical switching element which is arranged within the frame, wherein the diaphragm forms one or more first predetermined sections on an outer face of the frame, the frame bearing against an inner face of the key housing at a first predetermined section, and a mechanical emergency key which is accommodated in the key housing at least partially adjacent to the switch housing, wherein the diaphragm forms one or more second predetermined sections adjacent to the emergency key on the outer face of the frame, said second predetermined sections bearing against the emergency key so as to damp movements of said emergency key.
An electronic key for a vehicle includes a key housing and a switch housing inside it. The switch housing has a rigid frame with at least one aperture and a flexible diaphragm covering the aperture. Force applied to the diaphragm is transferred to an electrical switch. The diaphragm forms sections on the outer face of the frame where the frame contacts the key housing's inner face. The key also contains a mechanical emergency key housed partially next to the switch housing. The diaphragm forms sections adjacent to the emergency key on the outer face of the frame that press against the emergency key to dampen its movement and prevent rattling.
4. The electronic key as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the key housing further has: a removable cover which is arranged at least partially adjacent to the switch housing; a holding device for holding and releasing the cover; wherein the diaphragm forms one or more third predetermined sections adjacent to the cover on the outer face of the frame, said third predetermined sections bearing against the cover so as to push said cover out of its position when the holding device releases the cover.
The electronic key described previously further has a removable cover positioned partially next to the switch housing and a holding device to secure and release the cover. The diaphragm includes sections adjacent to the cover on the frame's outer face that push against the cover. When the holding device releases the cover, the diaphragm sections help eject the cover from its position, providing an assisted opening mechanism.
5. The electronic key as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the holding device has a latching lug which can be accommodated in a corresponding latching recess in the cover in order to hold the cover and can be moved out of the latching recess in order to release the cover.
In the electronic key with the ejectable cover described previously, the holding device uses a latching lug that fits into a corresponding recess on the cover to hold it in place. The latching lug can be moved out of the recess to release the cover.
6. The electronic key as claimed in claim 4 , wherein an emergency key is fixedly connected to the cover.
In the electronic key with the ejectable cover described previously, the emergency key is permanently attached to the cover. Therefore, when the cover is ejected, the emergency key is also presented for use.
7. The electronic key as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board with the electrical switching element, which printed circuit board is fitted to the frame within the switch housing.
The electronic key described initially additionally contains a printed circuit board (PCB) that houses the electrical switching element. This PCB is mounted to the frame inside the switch housing, consolidating the electronic components into a single unit.
8. The electronic key as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the diaphragm forms one or more fourth predetermined sections on the inner face of the frame and the printed circuit board bears against said fourth predetermined sections.
In the electronic key with the PCB described previously, the diaphragm includes sections on the inner face of the frame. The printed circuit board presses against these sections, providing support and potentially damping vibration for the PCB within the switch housing.
9. The electronic key as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the switch housing has a cap which has projections in order to push the printed circuit board against the one or more fourth predetermined sections by the projections in the state in which the cap is fitted on the switch housing.
In the electronic key where the PCB presses against the diaphragm, the switch housing has a cap. This cap includes projections that push the printed circuit board against the diaphragm sections when the cap is fitted onto the switch housing. This ensures that the PCB remains firmly in place within the housing.
10. The electronic key as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm has at least one fifth predetermined section which runs toward the outside in the interior of the switch housing, wherein the at least one fifth section has a coupling-in section in the interior of the switch housing and an output section outside the switch housing, and wherein a light source is arranged adjacent to the coupling-in section in the interior of the switch housing in order to conduct light to the output section through the diaphragm as a light guide.
In the initial electronic key, the diaphragm includes sections that extend outwards inside the switch housing. These sections have a coupling-in section inside the housing and an output section outside the housing. A light source is located near the coupling-in section inside the switch housing. Light from this source is transmitted through the diaphragm to the output section, effectively using the diaphragm as a light guide to illuminate an area outside the switch housing.
11. The electronic key as claimed in claim 5 , wherein an emergency key is fixedly connected to the cover.
In the electronic key where the holding device uses a latching lug to secure the removable cover, the emergency key is fixedly connected to the cover.
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March 19, 2014
November 28, 2017
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